VO News You Can Use
Dr. O's Weekly Parent Newsletter
NCSD Mission Statement
Developing each student's potential with a world class education.
May 4, 2020
Dear Village Oaks Families,
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! This week we celebrate all of the amazing educators at VO. This school year we have experienced some challenges like never before, but our staff continues to rise to the occasion and support our students with the highest level of professionalism! As your Principal I couldn't be more proud to work beside these amazing individuals and I hope our families find some time throughout the week to share their appreciation for the great work our staff does for all of our children. I encourage parents and students to send a note, picture, or video of gratitude via email or Seesaw to their teacher some time this week. As many of you know, our teachers love what they do and value feedback from parents...so don’t hesitate to share it during this week of appreciation!
Stay Safe and Healthy!
Alex
NCSD Learning Plan Parent Survey
As a district we are trying to solicit feedback on the first two weeks of Phase Two of our Learning Plan. Below is the link to the parent survey--we appreciate your feedback as we work together to support our students!
Novi Meadows Classroom Placement Parent Input
As we navigate through these unprecedented times, many new challenges have arisen. One of those challenges is how to effectively transition students and families from their K-4 experience to Novi Meadows in a way that is both comforting and informative. Below is a survey from the Novi Meadows Principals which allow them to gather feedback to guide student placement. Thank you for your feedback!
Mr. Walsh's Special Song!
KINDERGARTEN ONLINE PRE-ENROLLMENT IS OPEN!!
We have opened the online pre-enrollment registration for the 2020-2021 school year and are making plans to welcome the incoming kindergarten class. Please complete the online pre-enrollment, so we can share pertinent information going forward. Completing the online portion will help us plan for student placement. We will eventually communicate when families will be able to submit required documentation to the Early Childhood Education Center. We can’t wait to finalize the registration process and welcome the incoming Class of 2033. If you have any questions, please review the NCSD enrollment page or call 248-675-3400.
VO HEART
NCSD Tech Support
If you need help logging into any of the platforms (Seesaw, iReady, Clever, etc.) on a district issued device you can submit a service ticket for login issues or if you need tech. assistance.
Service desk contact information:
- Phone: 248-209-2060
- Email: servicedesk@oakland.k12.mi.us
- Online Ticket Submission: servicedesk.oakland.k12.mi.us
VOICE Spring Fling Update
VO Community Support!
VO Specials Weekly Update
VO Book Fair
Looking for something new to read? School may be closed, but our Village Oaks book fair is open! Order online from April 20 - May 3 to get books shipped straight to your door! 25% of profits go to benefit our school library. Thank you for your support!
Katy Golden, MLIS
VO School Librarian
A Greener VO
Get out and Garden!
Help ‘grow’ a passion for plants/gardening/the outdoors in your students by creating a family garden at home. Whether it is fruits and vegetables, flowers or any combination thereof, gardening provides students with knowledge and insight on many essential scientific topics and standards. Check out this of ideas for making gardening fun and accessable for elementary students from the Gardeners’ World by the BBC- https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/10-gardening-projects-for-kids/
Social Emotional Support
The Novi Community Schools Social Work Department would like to share some opportunities and resources for social emotional learning for all students during this unprecedented time. Attached is a list of resources for students of all ages with different mediums of instructional delivery. There are some fantastic resources to assist with social skill development, mindfulness, anxiety, and materials regarding talking to students about COVID-19.
Please reach out to our school social worker Ms. Amber Zarb amber.zarb@novik12.org via email if you have any questions or concerns.
Enjoy the video below from Dr. Stephanie Grant, child behavior therapist and expert in trauma. Dr. Grant provides great insight on how to support your children through COVID-19.
Social Distancing--Be Safe
As the weather begins to warm up many of us will begin to go outside more often to enjoy different outdoor activities. While outside please be safe and adhere to the social distancing recommendations made by many medical experts. Below is an insightful article outlining the importance of social distancing during this pandemic.
Social Distancing: Why Keeping Your Distance Helps Keep Others SafeVO School Day Conversations
What do you like the most about your teacher?
How can you show appreciation to your teacher this week?
What is one success you experienced this week with your online learning?
Novi Mental Health Alliance--Parent Emporwing Parent Program
The Parent Emporwing Parent Program connects parents in need with parents who know. PEP pairs up a parent who has experienced challenges in his or her own parenting to providing support, encouragement, and knowledge, to another parent going through a similar situation. Below are the flyers for program.
Learn more about the Novi Mental Health Alliance by visiting the website at: https://www.novi.k12.mi.us/community/novi-mental-health-alliance
Volunteer and Donation Opportunities
VO Flags
One of the things that makes our building so special is our diverse student population--we have families in our community who come from all over the world! To celebrate our global diversity we have hung flags in our cafeteria that represent many of the countries of our VO families. As a gift from VO retirees we were given flags of the following countries: Israel, India, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, South Korea, China, and USA. Thank you to our parents who have also donated the following flags: Poland, Singapore, Japan, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Nepal, Greece, Pakistan, Uruguay, Ecuador, Portugal, Spain, Central African Republic, South Africa, Wales, Iceland, Australia, Armenia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Russia, Scotland and Yemen. If you would like to purchase a flag of your country of origin or to represent one of the many nationalities of our school please visit Amazon and search for an ANLEY 3x5 flag: VO Flags
Before purchasing and donating the flag to our school’s collection please contact me or one of our secretaries with the flag information so we can make sure that another family has not already ordered the same flag.
VO Staff Message
Playworks
This year NCSD elementary schools will partner with Playworks to enhance the learning experiences for students throughout the district. Playworks is the leading nonprofit in Michigan and nationally using play to transform schools. A Playworks recess creates a place for every kid on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills. Please click on the link below and read the attached Playworks article to learn more about our partnership and Patrice our Playworks Coach!
Despite the current challenges Playworks is still committed to providing safe and healthy play for every child everyday. We see the work that you are doing to continue to educate our students and we are committed to providing the same SEL learning opportunities we have delivered in your classrooms all year. #PlayworksAtHome is a resource to help families and educators in a variety of formats so students can continue to #PlayAtHome.
Please see the resources below:
Daily online live stream recess on Playworks Facebook (@MakeRecessCount). Starting March 20, a Playworks Coach will provide a virtual recess at 12:00 p.m., 2:00p.m., and 4:00p.m. every school day Monday - Friday
eLearning: Videos of adults leading Playworks games, minute movers, and stretches for kids that can be embedded into eLearning systems, shared on social media, embedded on websites, and more. Check out this example. These resources and more can be found on Playworks.org/PlayAtHome
Play At Home Playbook: This includes instructions for games that are adaptable and can be played with little to no equipment and with the CDC recommended guidelines for social distancing. These can be printed and distributed with homework and/or placed on school websites.
More resources - we also suggest sharing our traditional online Game Library allowing your community access to explore hundreds of games by group size, available space and equipment, appropriate ages, and developmental skills.
We thank you for continuing to be a supporter of play and sharing these resources on your social platforms and networks. We look forward to seeing you on our virtual playground!
Keep Connected on Twitter
VILLAGE OAKS MISSION
The mission of Village Oaks Elementary is to create and maintain an educational environment that supports academic achievement, consistent with district, state and national standards to meet all students' learning needs.
VO 2018 National Blue Ribbon Exemplary School
Village Oaks Elementary
VO school hours: 9:08 am-4:00 pm
Office hours: 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Attendance line: 248.449.1301
Office phone number: 248.449.1300
Email: Alexander.ofili@novik12.org
Website: https://vo.novi.k12.mi.us/
Location: Village Oaks Elementary School, Willowbrook Drive, Novi, MI, United States
Phone: 248.449.1300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoviVillageOaks
Twitter: @NoviVillageOaks